Apple updates MacBook Air, Mac Studio with M4 chips

The new MacBook Air is equipped with Apple’s latest chip, the M4, while some models of the Mac Studio are getting a more powerful version called the M4 Max.

4 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Mar 6, 2025 07:41 AM IST

Apple on Wednesday announced new versions of its MacBook Air and Mac Studio desktop. This was Apple’s second product announcement this week after unveiling the M3-powered iPad Air and a new baseline iPad. Late last month, Apple also launched the iPhone 16e, its most affordable iPhone. Apple did not hold an event for these products, reflecting evolutionary updates rather than something entirely new.

‘Still light and thin but more powerful’

The new MacBook Air comes with a faster M4 chip (featuring a 10-core CPU, up to a 10-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory in the base model, and up to 32GB of memory in higher-end models). This is the same chip that was in last year’s iPad Pro and iMac, meaning it supports Apple Intelligence, the company’s new suite of artificial intelligence features, which is slated to launch in India in April.

The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 and the 15-inch model start at Rs 99,900 and Rs 124,900, respectively. (Image credit: Apple)

The MacBook Air M4 comes in 13-inch and 15-inch screen sizes, features a new 12-megapixel Center Stage camera, and offers up to 18 hours of battery life. The new M4 chip allows users to connect up to two external displays, an improvement over the single screen supported by earlier generations of M-series processors.

The design remains the same as previous models; however, the notebook now comes in new colors—Sky Blue, a metallic light blue, alongside Midnight, Starlight, and Silver.

Apple’s MacBook Air is popular among students, freelancers, and anyone who wants a notebook with macOS. Apple heavily markets the MacBook Air in education, a key segment that drives high sales volumes. The company labels the MacBook Air as the “world’s best consumer laptop for AI,” its way of competing with new Windows laptops billed as “AI PCs.”

Also Read | Apple introduced iPad Air M3 and upgraded the entry-level iPad with A16 chip

The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 and the 15-inch model start at Rs 99,900 and Rs 124,900, respectively. They are available for pre-order now and will launch in stores on March 12.

Mac Studio gets M4 Max, M3 Ultra chips

Apple is also updating its Mac Studio, a display-less desktop computer housed in a cube-shaped aluminum box with USB-C ports and an SD card slot on the front. The desktop features the high-performance M4 Max, a more powerful version of the M4 chip designed for coders, video editors, and graphic designers—essentially, pro consumers.

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The Mac Studio starts at Rs 219,400 and is available for pre-order today. (Image credit: Apple)

The Mac Studio with M4 Max features up to a 16-core CPU, up to a 40-core GPU, over half a terabyte per second of unified memory bandwidth, and a Neural Engine that is over three times faster than the M1 Max. The GPU in the M4 Max offers advanced graphics architecture, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and a second-generation ray tracing engine.

The base model of the M4 Max Mac Studio starts with 32GB of unified memory, with support for up to 128GB. The desktop computer supports Apple Intelligence, which offers features such as AI-powered writing and editing features and a redesigned Siri.

Apple is also offering the Mac Studio with the M3 Max chip alongside the M4 Max.

The company first announced the Mac Studio in 2022. It can be paired with a 27-inch display called the Studio Display, which features a 5K resolution, an Apple chip, built-in speakers, and a camera. Alternatively, it can be used with Apple’s top-end Pro XDR display or any monitor for that matter.

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The Mac Studio starts at Rs 219,400 and is available for pre-order today, with shipping beginning on March 12. Users can also configure the Mac Studio to suit their requirements.

In the quarter that ended in December, Apple reported $8.98 billion in Mac sales, with Mac revenue rising 15 percent, showing strong growth compared to last year’s struggling sales during the holiday quarter.

Anuj Bhatia

Anuj Bhatia is a seasoned personal technology writer at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle. Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include: Core Technology: Comprehensive coverage of smartphones, personal computers, apps, and lifestyle tech. Deep-Dive Narratives: Specializes in composing longer-form feature articles and explainers that explore the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. Global & Local Scope: Reports extensively on major international product launches from industry titans like Apple and Google, while simultaneously covering the ecosystem of indie and home-grown tech startups. Niche Interests: A dedicated focus on vintage technology and retro gaming, offering readers a nostalgic yet analytical perspective on the evolution of tech. Authoritativeness & Trust Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape. Find all stories by Anuj Bhatia here. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. ... Read More

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